The once-a-year event spans the disciplines of mountain biking, with title chases in everything from downhill to cross country. Riders put it all on the line in pursuit of the coveted rainbow stripes, awarded only to the winners of each discipline. Of course, the riders who become champions use some of the industry’s top and top secret technology, some of which I spotted at the event. First, and probably most important, is SRAM’s original BlackBox rear derailleur and drivetrain fitted to XCO gold medalist Nino Schurter’s Scott Spark. The derailleur appears to not need a derailleur hanger, instead bolting directly to the bike’s frame or axle. Once we know more, we’ll be sure to bring you updates. We also checked out the Santa Cruz V10 of outgoing Men’s DH World Champion Greg Minnaar, who appeared to be using a brand new Shimano Saint rear derailleur. Finally, we got to see Vali Höll’s Trek Session, which also features some unreleased tech. Up front, the 2022 women’s downhill world champion appears to be running a beefier RockShox Boxxer fork, possibly with 38mm stanchions, upgraded from the 35mm versions of the current fork. This would bring the Boxxer closer to RockShox’s ZEB fork, which also uses 38mm top tubes. Of course the MTB World Championship was in the spotlight, but it’s not the only event we’ve covered. The Malverns Classic, a long-running event hosted in the UK and sponsored by BikeRadar’s sister title Mountain Biking UK, also took place last weekend. We’ve trawled the festival for new and unreleased tech highlights, and we’ve also brought you a pretty impressive retro mountain bike gallery. If you loved fat tires from the 1970s onwards, this gallery should bring back some fond memories. Anyway, onto this week’s Friday First Look product picks. Keep reading to check out the latest tech hitting the BikeRadar offices this week.
Lupine Alpha mountain bike light
The whole package is sold at €1,080. Alex Evans / Our Media
Boasting an impressive output of 7,200 lumens, the Lupine Alpha has plenty of power to match its rather fantastic €1,080 price tag. Of course, at this price it is not lacking in technology, with its features extending beyond the magical maximum performance limit and 480 meters of firing radius. LED light is projected through 19 and 22 degree optics. Alex Evans / Our Media Lupine claims the Alpha’s optics are tuned to deliver impressive trail lighting thanks to 22-degree and 18-degree lenses to control the LED output. Although the sleek head unit has a minimalist look, it hides Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, meaning a dedicated app can be used to tune light output levels. It also takes advantage of this wireless connection to connect to the supplied remote control, ‘Peppi’, which is the main control for the Alpha. The ‘Peppi’ remote control is the main controller of the Alpha. Alex Evans / Our Media The main unit has a stylish battery life indicator and power LED on the back, while the separate battery also has a lantern-style LED and an audible charge indicator. The battery has a lantern-type charge indicator. It also beeps to indicate charging. Alex Evans / Our Media Combined, the lupine weighed 735g on my scale (head unit 230g, battery 468g, clamp 20g and remote 17g). I included Lupine’s Alpha in this year’s group mountain bike test, so stay tuned for a full review on BikeRadar soon. The Alpha light unit has a minimalist and elegant design. Alex Evans / Our Media
e*thirteen Grappler tires
Grappler tire tread blocks are aggressive. Alex Evans / Our Media
The Grappler tire from ethirteen is the latest model from the brand and is aimed at the hardcore, dynamic enduro and downhill markets. In order to meet the demands of the most extreme ends of mountain biking, ethirteen has created the Grappler with ultra-tough casings and what it claims is an “extremely high grip tread”. There are two compounds available, with the stickier MOPO version registering as 42a on the durometer across the tire tread for maximum grip. The tread design is reminiscent of Maxxis’ Assegai. Alex Evans / Our Media The Endurance compound has 50a shoulder lugs and 56a center knobs to balance traction and roll speed. The tread design is reminiscent of the tire that has become a staple in the cycling scene, the Maxxis Assegai. Aside from imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, it’s also a brilliant move by e*thirteen because Assegai’s spherical grip is virtually unbeatable. Along with the composite options, there are two types of casing. MOPO compound is the stickiest and a harder, longer lasting strength compound is also available. Alex Evans / Our Media The dual-ply enduro casing has a higher 120 TPI braid (so less rubber can penetrate the tire’s carcass threads, resulting in a lighter build) and an Aramid bead. The sole section is reinforced with an Apex EN insert. The 29×2.5-inch Grappler Enduro MOPO compound tire weighed in at 1,300 grams on my scale, while the Endurance compound tire in the same frame width and dimensions came in at 1,321 grams. The DH casing tire also has dual ply construction but uses a thicker 72 TPI ply. There is an Aramid pellet, but the Apex inserts are DH rated. The 29-inch MOPO compound weighed in at 1,440 grams, while the Endurance compound tipped the scales at 1,466 grams. Available in enduro and downhill housing options. Alex Evans / Our Media Stay tuned for full reviews of all four tires on BikeRadar soon.
DMT FK1 Enduro Shoes
At £149.99, they don’t come cheap. Alex Evans / Our Media
DMT’s FK1 Enduro shoe is an ultralight (659g, EU42 pair) knit construction, flat pedal shoe with a Michelin OCX rubber sole. The unusual knit construction of the upper, DMT claims, is designed to create a fit that “conforms to the shape of your foot.” It is also claimed to be highly breathable and wicks moisture away from your feet. The toe box and heel have added protection to make them tougher. Alex Evans / Our Media The lack of seams boosts the FK1’s comfort credentials. Their toe cap and certain areas of the shoe’s upper, such as the heel, have increased protection to reduce wear and tear and help prevent injuries. The ankle collar is made of soft microfiber material and is elasticated to ensure a snug fit around your ankle. The lightweight knit construction is claimed to provide high levels of comfort. Alex Evans / Our Media Lightweight shoes – like Five Ten’s Trailcross range – are certainly popular for the less extreme mountain bikers out there, but the lack of protection can be problematic for some enduro or downhill riders. The FK1 shoes have a Michelin rubber sole. Alex Evans / Our Media Stay tuned for a review of the FK1 to see if they hit the mark.
See Trail Fusion flat pedals
A pair of Fusion pedals weighs 333 grams. Alex Evans / Our Media
These aren’t Look’s first foray into flat pedal territory, but they’re arguably a more dedicated effort focused on the MTB market. The French-made composite platform measures 103x103mm at its widest points and 18mm thick at its deepest, central point. This gives the pedal a curved shape, where the front and rear edges are 13mm thick. The body shaft bulge gives it a curved shape. Alex Evans / Our Media They have eight replaceable rear loading pins, seven located around the perimeter of the pedal and one in the center. Look’s Trail Fusion flat pedal is made of plastic composite. Alex Evans / Our Media Spinning on a Chromoly shaft, they use three bearings in total. These are sealed with a “premium sealing system”. They have eight sharp pins per side. Alex Evans / Our Media Available in five vibrant colors (lime pictured) and weighing just 333g a pair, Look hopes the modest price will be enough to tempt people into buying them.
